Shakur Stevenson

Shakur Stevenson
Stevenson at the 2016 Olympics
Statistics
Real name	Ash-Shakur Nafi-Shahid Stevenson
Weight(s)	Featherweight Super featherweight
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Reach	68 in (173 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1997-06-28) June 28, 1997 (age 24) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	17
Wins	17
Wins by KO	9
Losses	0
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  United States Olympic Games 2016 Rio de Janeiro Bantamweight Youth Olympic Games 2014 Nanjing Flyweight Youth World Championships 2014 Sofia Flyweight

Ash-Shakur Nafi-Shahid Stevenson (born June 28, 1997) is an American professional boxer. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBO junior lightweight title since October 2021, and the WBO featherweight title from 2019 to 2020. As an amateur, Stevenson represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the bantamweight division. As of October 2021, he is ranked as the world's best junior lightweight by The Ring magazine,^[1] Transnational Boxing Rankings Board,^[2] and ESPN.^[3]

Amateur career[]

Stevenson had a very successful career at the Youth Level, winning the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships and 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. In 2015 he won the Senior U.S. Olympic Trials, thus qualifying for the U.S. boxing team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.^[4] In Rio, Stevenson won a silver medal, losing to Robeisy Ramírez of Cuba in the gold medal match. He was the highest-medaling male for the USA — Claressa Shields won gold for the USA women's team.

World Series of Boxing record[]

2 Wins, 0 Losses[5]
Result	Record	Team	Opponent (Team)	Score	Date	Location
Win	2–0	USA Knockouts	Mohamed Hamout (Morocco Atlas Lions)	3-0	2016-02-19	Casablanca, Morocco
Win	1–0	USA Knockouts	Peter McGrail (British Lionhearts)	3-0	2016-01-21	Miami, U.S.

Professional career[]

Featherweight[]

Early career[]

Stevenson turned professional on February 9, 2017 signing a promotional contract with Top Rank.^[6][7] He signed Andre Ward as his manager.^[8]

Promoter Bob Arum told Ringtv that Stevenson would likely make his debut on a stacked card at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on April 22, 2017.^[9] Stevenson showed off his quickness, defense and punching skills as he won his first professional fight against American boxer Edgar Brito. Stevenson won via fifth round technical decision. Brito was cut on the left eye after an accidental headbutt in round 2. In round 3, he was deducted a point for intentionally headbutting Stevenson. From his own intentional headbutts, Brito suffered a cut over his right eye. The ringside physician stopped the bout. Stevenson was ahead on all three judges scorecards and won every round.^[10][11]

In an official press release on May 3, it was confirmed that Stevenson would make his Madison Square Garden debut on undercard of the Terence Crawford vs. Félix Díaz world light welterweight championship fight on May 20, 2017. His opponent was announced as Argentine boxer Carlos Suarez (6-3-2, 1 KO).^[12] Stevenson won the bout after 2 minutes and 35 seconds of the first round. Suarez was knocked down before the stoppage.^[13] Stevenson's third bout took place at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, again on the undercard of Terrence Crawford, this time his unification fight against Julius Indongo on August 19, 2017. Stevenson fought his second straight Argentine opponent, David Michel Paz (4-3) in a scheduled six-round fight. Stevenson easily outpointed Paz over 6 rounds winning 60–53 on all three scorecards. In round 5, Paz was knocked down following a straight left. Stevenson seemed comfortable and patient in letting the fight go the distance.^[14] On November 20, Top Rank confirmed 26-year-old Mexican Oscar Mendoza (4-2, 2 KOs) as Stevenson's opponent, which would take place on the undercard of Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux on December 9, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City, New York.^[15]

Stevenson's first fight for 2018 was announced on February 7 to take place at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino's Grand Theater in Reno, Nevada on February 16 against Juan Tapia (8-1, 3 KOs) in a scheduled 8 round bout.^[16] Stevenson easily outpointed Tapia, winning 80–72 on all three judges' scorecards. Stevenson showed defensive improvements in the fight, boxed with his jab and worked to the body. He used the distance well, allowing Tapia to land only one punch at a time.^[17]

Stevenson vs. Gonzalez[]

Stevenson continued his winning streak, compiling a perfect record of 12-0 before facing Joet Gonzalez for the vacant WBO featherweight title on October 26, 2019. Gonzalez was ranked #2 by the WBO at featherweight.^[18] The two men had a long-running feud, due to the fact that Stevenson's girlfriend of the past three years had been Gonzalez's younger sister, Jajaira. Gonzalez and his father openly disapproved of the relationship and of Stevenson.^[19] On the night, Stevenson outboxed his opponent, winning a unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 119–109 in his favor. After the final bell, Stevenson attempted to reconcile with Gonzalez without success, saying, "I told him he's a helluva fighter. He didn't really want to talk to me, but it is what it is."^[20] On July 9, 2020, Stevenson vacated his WBO title without making a single title defense, as he had moved up to the super featherweight division.^[21]

Super featherweight[]

Stevenson vs. Clary[]

On December 12, 2020, Stevenson fought Toka Khan Clary. Stevenson defeated Clary convincingly, winning the fight by a wide margin on the scorecards, with all three judges scoring the contest 100–90 in his favor.^[22]

Stevenson vs. Nakathila[]

After improving to 15–0, Stevenson knocked Jeremiah Nakathila down with a check hook in the fourth round of their fight, en route to a shutout unanimous decision victory on June 12, 2021 in Las Vegas to win the vacant WBO interim junior lightweight title.^[23][24] Nakathila was ranked #2 by the WBO at super featherweight.^[25] The bout attracted criticism from pundits and analysts, citing the low number of punches thrown by either man leading to a lack of action. So few meaningful punches were thrown that the ESPN commentators Joe Tessitore, Tim Bradley and Andre Ward who were calling the fight criticized Stevenson during the live broadcast of the fight.^[26]

Stevenson vs. Herring[]

On October 23, 2021, Stevenson faced WBO junior lightweight champion Jamel Herring at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. With a one-sided performance that saw Stevenson use remarkable hand speed, he became a two-division world champion when he defeated Herring via tenth-round technical knockout after being ahead on all three judges' scorecards. In the aftermath of his victory, Stevenson proclaimed, "I want to be a superstar in the sport; I'm here to last."^[27]

Personal life[]

A native of Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson is the oldest of nine siblings, born to his mother Malikah Stevenson and raised by his stepfather Shahid Guyton. Stevenson’s biological father, who was of Puerto Rican descent was not a part of Shakur’s life. He took up boxing at age five under his grandfather Wali Moses and cites Andre Ward as his influence.^{[28][29][30][31]}

According to a police report, Stevenson and fellow boxer, David Grayton, were involved in an altercation in a South Beach parking garage. The two fighters made comments to a group of people in a parking garage.^[32] Stevenson was arrested on July 1, 2018 and charged with misdemeanor assault. On June 18, 2019, Stevenson agreed to a deal where the charges would be dropped after one year of probation and 50 hours of community service. He had already paid the victims' medical expenses.^[33]

Professional boxing record[]

Professional record summary

17 fights	17 wins	0 losses
By knockout	9	0
By decision	8	0

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
18	N/A	N/A	Óscar Valdez	N/A	– (12)	Apr 30, 2022	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Defending WBO super featherweight title; For WBC super featherweight title
17	Win	17–0	Jamel Herring	TKO	10 (12), 1:30	Oct 23, 2021	State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.	Won WBO super featherweight title
16	Win	16–0	Jeremiah Nakathila	UD	12	Jun 12, 2021	Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Won vacant WBO interim super featherweight title
15	Win	15–0	Toka Khan Clary	UD	10	Dec 12, 2020	MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Felix Caraballo	KO	6 (10), 1:31	Jun 9, 2020	MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Joet Gonzalez	UD	12	Oct 26, 2019	Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.	Won vacant WBO featherweight title
12	Win	12–0	Alberto Guevara	KO	3 (10), 2:37	Jul 13, 2019	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.	Retained WBO-NABO featherweight title
11	Win	11–0	Christopher Diaz	UD	10	Apr 20, 2019	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained IBF Inter-Continental featherweight title; Won vacant WBO-NABO featherweight title
10	Win	10–0	Jessie Cris Rosales	TKO	4 (10), 1:29	Jan 18, 2019	Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.	Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental and WBC Continental Americas featherweight titles
9	Win	9–0	Viorel Simion	TKO	1 (10), 3:00	Oct 13, 2018	CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Carlos Ruiz	UD	8	Aug 18, 2018	Ocean Resort Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Aelio Mesquita	TKO	2 (8), 1:45	Jun 9, 2018	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Roxberg Patrick Riley	TKO	2 (8), 1:35	Apr 28, 2018	Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Juan Tapia	UD	8	Feb 16, 2018	Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Oscar Mendoza	TKO	2 (6), 1:38	Dec 9, 2017	The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	David Michel Paz	UD	6	Aug 19, 2017	Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Carlos Gaston Suarez	TKO	1 (6), 2:35	May 20, 2017	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Edgar Brito	TD	6 (6), 3:00	Apr 22, 2017	Stubhub Center, Carson, California, U.S.	Unanimous TD after Brito cut from accidental head clash

See also[]

• List of Puerto Ricans

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shakur Stevenson.

• Boxing record for Shakur Stevenson from BoxRec
• Shakur Stevenson - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live

Achievements
Regional boxing titles
Vacant Title last held by Kid Galahad	IBF Inter-Continental featherweight champion January 18 – October 26, 2019	Vacant Title next held by Albert Batyrgaziev
Vacant Title last held by Joshue Veraza	WBC Continental Americas featherweight champion January 18 – October 26, 2019 Won WBO title	Vacant Title next held by Eduardo Ramirez
Vacant Title last held by Joet Gonzalez	WBO-NABO featherweight champion April 20 – October 26, 2019 Won world title	Vacant Title next held by Pedro Marquez Medina
World boxing titles
Vacant Title last held by Óscar Valdez	WBO featherweight champion October 26, 2019 – July 7, 2020	Vacant Title next held by Emanuel Navarrete
Vacant Title last held by Miguel Berchelt	WBO junior lightweight champion Interim title June 12, 2021 – October 23, 2021	Vacant
Preceded by Jamel Herring	WBO junior lightweight champion October 23, 2021 – present	Incumbent